Sénégal: Djireye Clotilde Coly Présente Sa Feuille de Route Sportive

• Minister Djirèye Clotilde Coly presented her roadmap for Senegalese sports governance on August 6th.
• The plan emphasizes renewed governance, new partnerships, and alignment with the "Sénégal 2050" national transformation agenda.
• Performance contracts with measurable indicators will be re-established for federations receiving public subsidies.
• The finalization of the Sports Code application decrees is imminent, introducing new compliance obligations.
• Federations are urged to hold general assemblies according to current legal requirements.

Minister Coly specified that each organization would be bound by a "contrat de performance fédérations sportives," featuring clearly defined, measurable indicators.

Mme. Djirèye Clotilde Coly, who assumed the role of Minister of Youth and Sports on June 1st, recently outlined her strategic vision for the sector. During a meeting held yesterday, August 6th, at the Salon d’honneur of the Léopold Sedar Senghor stadium, Minister Coly presented her comprehensive "feuille de route Sénégal" to presidents of various sports federations and groups. This gathering, also attended by representatives from the CNOSS and departmental directors, aimed to establish the groundwork for a revitalized sports governance framework and foster new partnerships within the athletic community.

The Minister emphasized a commitment to rigorous adherence to established procedures, signaling a departure from past practices. According to a post on her Facebook page, the primary goal of the engagement was to lay the "bases d’une gouvernance sportive rénovée et d'un partenariat nouveau." The session served four key objectives: initiating contact with stakeholders, reiterating principles of sound management and good governance, mobilizing support for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics, and actively listening to the concerns and recommendations of sports actors. President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye has underscored the significant importance of promoting sport, instructing his government to engage in broad consultation to leverage sport as a tool for national influence, personal development, and substantial youth employment, aligning with the "Sénégal 2050" national transformation agenda.

A pivotal announcement during the meeting was the impending re-establishment of "conventions d’objectifs fédérations sportives" between the State and federations that receive public subsidies. Minister Coly specified that each organization would be bound by a "contrat de performance fédérations sportives," featuring clearly defined, measurable indicators. This initiative is designed to ensure transparent management of public funds and to underpin a more structured national sports policy, enhancing accountability across the sector.

Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the imminent finalization of the "Sénégal Code du Sport décrets application," which will provide the necessary regulatory framework for the new sports governance model. This development is crucial for establishing clear operational guidelines and compliance requirements for all sports entities. In line with strengthening institutional integrity, federations were also explicitly reminded of their obligation to convene general assemblies in strict accordance with existing legal texts, reinforcing statutory compliance as a cornerstone of the new "gouvernance sportive Sénégal."

Beyond immediate regulatory adjustments, the "Ministre Jeunesse Sports Sénégal plan" includes several forward-looking initiatives aimed at fostering a dynamic and prosperous sports ecosystem. These include the creation of a dedicated consultation framework to facilitate ongoing dialogue with the broader sports movement and the establishment of a specific steering framework to manage the participation of Senegalese athletes in the upcoming JOJ Dakar 2026.

The roadmap also places a strong emphasis on enhancing training programs, cultivating strategic partnerships, and boosting sponsorship opportunities. To support these ambitions, two new female directors have recently been appointed to lead departments that had remained vacant for several years, signaling a renewed operational focus. Minister Coly reaffirmed the State's unwavering commitment to collaborate with the sports movement, collectively striving to "build a modern, high-performing, and prosperous sports ecosystem" for Senegal.

Lawyers advising sports federations or entities receiving public subsidies in Senegal must prepare for the re-establishment of performance contracts with measurable indicators, requiring careful legal review and negotiation. They should also monitor the imminent finalization of the Sports Code application decrees for new compliance obligations and ensure federations adhere to statutory requirements for general assemblies.

Source: Original reporting via Senegalese press.